Alhambra Bowl, Inc. v. Ledbetter Sign Co.

This appeal is taken from a judgment rendered in favor of plaintiff in an action brought to recover damage to a building in Sacramento caused by fire. The only issue presented on appeal is as to the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the judgment.

The building housed a series of bowling alleys. Offset against the front or western face of the building was a vertical sign pylon, holding on either side neon-lighted lettering spelling the word “Bowling.” The pylon ran from slightly below the level of the second floor of the building upward to a point a little above the outer wall of a third story penthouse atop the main structure. The pylon was *779 hollow so as to permit workmen to work inside on the wiring to the lettering which was served by four transformers inside the pylon, each transformer furnishing energy to a part of the sign. These transformers converted the 110-115 volt house current to 12,000-15,000 volts of low amperage. Access to the interior of the pylon at its lower end was gained through a grilled panel located inside the west or front wall of the second story. Throughout the period involved appellant was under contract with the building owners to service and…